DERRY CITY: McEleney trial out of my hands insists Hegarty

Michael Wilson

Derry City manager, Paul Hegarty, described Patrick McEleney’s trial with English League One outfit, Peterborough, as ‘out of his control’ but stressed he has no problem with players trying to safeguard their futures.

The ‘Candy Stripes’ play maker will travel to England after Derry’s final league game of the season against Longford Town in The City Calling Stadium, something Hegarty stressed he is perfectly entitled to do.

“Patrick is 100 per cent entitled to go on the trial and it’s not something I want to get bogged down in, as it is out of my control,” explained Hegarty whose own stint as caretaker manager will end after the Longford game.

“As long as any player is representing Derry City I expect them to put in a shift but I have no concerns on that front with Patrick.

“To be honest I have not spoken to him about it but I don’t need to. A lot of the players will be talking to other clubs and they have to because we are talking about their livelihood but as long as their playing for Derry City I expect 100 per cent.”

Hegarty refused to be drawn on his own contract situation, preferring to concentrate securing a sixth place league finish with victory over Tony Cousins’ side.

“I wouldn’t have thought motivation will be a problem on Friday night,” he added, “If we win the game we go up to sixth and that would represent a decent finish considering where we found ourselves. We’ve been looking at sixth spot as a target and it remains our intention to finish the season as well as we can.

“The players have been superb and have represented the club very well. They have done everything I have asked of them over the past few weeks. Everyone of them has put in a real shift which is what I expect when they are playing for Derry City.

“When you get that level of performance, the results follow. We have had players coming in and going out through injury and suspension but every one has played their part. Even last week in the defeat to Bohemians, the level of performance was there, especially in the second half and we want to take that to Longford and finish with a win.”